Football team and upgrades headed to Rockton Athletic Fields

ROCKTON — The village will get a major rush this year in the form of a semipro football team.

The Roscoe Rush confirmed it will play home games at the Rockton Athletic Fields.

“We’re excited to come to a football community,” Rush co-owner Brian Kelly said. “We’re going to do more than just play games there, we’re going to be heavily involved with the youth football programs in the area, and we’re going to offer a scholarship to area seniors.”

The Rush is an 11-year-old semipro football team in the Midstates Football League with an overall record of 126-31-1 and three league championships. Last year, the Rush played at Pecatonica High School.

Kelly said the Rush will play six games this year at the Rockton Athletic Fields, and its developmental league team, the Revolution, will play four games. Kelly said for every ticket sold, $1 will be given to the village.

Thanks to a five-year, $650,000 loan taken out by the village, the addition of the Rush is the centerpiece to a slate of additions and enhancements in store this year at the 60-acre riverfront park bordered by Illinois 2, Old River Road and the Rock River.

Permanent bleachers capable of seating 600 people, a press box and lights will be added to the stadium football field.

Outfield wall fencing — a potential source of advertising revenue — will be added to at least one baseball diamond, pathways will be installed throughout the park and the gravel parking lot will be doubled in size to accommodate 400 vehicles, Village President Dale Adams said.

Last year, a $300,000 concessions stand, operated by the Dairyhaus, was added. Kelly and Village Trustee Pat Hoey said plans are in the works to allow alcohol to be served at the Rush games.

The village’s new Parks Director Don Self said it is his goal to have the park’s four football fields and three baseball diamonds upgraded to competition level.

“The seeding done in the fall hopefully will come in. Germination is kind of its own beast,” Self said, noting it may take several years for all the athletic fields to develop a strong root system.

Future additions include a skate park and soccer fields. Adams said he also hopes to have all the athletic fields brought to competition level and ready to capture any overflow tournament games that take place down the road at Sportscore One.

“We’ve been talking to (Rockford Park District Executive Director) Tim Dimke and (Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO) John Groh,” he said.